President of Basketball Operations and General Manager of the Charlotte Hornets, Mitch Kupchak, made the announcement yesterday that Head Coach James Borrego has been relieved of his coaching responsibilities.
“JB’s dedication and efforts over the past four seasons are appreciated,” stated Kupchak. “Not only is he a skilled coach, but he’s also a remarkable individual. I extend my best wishes to him and his family for their future endeavors. While these decisions are always challenging, I am thrilled about the bright future of the Hornets, with a talented and youthful group of players. The search for our new head coach will commence promptly.”
As per the details provided by the Charlotte Observer:
Borrego, who held a 138-163 record during his tenure, exits as the Hornets’ coach a little over a week after their season concluded with a 132-103 defeat to Atlanta in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament. General manager Mitch Kupchak notified Borrego last Friday of the organization’s decision to part ways with him.
The abrupt dismissal of Borrego by the Hornets caught many by surprise. While owner Michael Jordan had to approve the move, sources revealed that he was not the one to directly communicate the decision to let go of Borrego, who had two years left on his contract following an extension in August.
Kupchak, the mastermind behind the Hornets’ strategy, was resolute in his choice to remove Borrego, believing it was necessary to drive forward the team’s young core spearheaded by LaMelo Ball. Various factors influenced Kupchak’s decision, compelling him to take this step after careful evaluation.
On May 10, 2018, Borrego assumed the role of the Hornets’ 11th head coach in the team’s history. His tenure with Charlotte spanned four impressive years.
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